UK Cleric Charged With Inviting Support For IS

Cleric Anjem Choudary has appeared in court, charged with inviting support for terror group Islamic State.

The charge relates to IS's status as a "proscribed terrorist organisation", meaning supporting it is banned in Britain.

Choudary 48, of Ilford, east London, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court and was remanded in custody.

He chose to represent himself and spoke for 20 minutes as he outlined his indication to plead not guilty, waving around notes relating to his case.

He appeared alongside Mohammed Rahman, 32, of Whitechapel, east London, who is also accused of inviting support for IS over the same dates.

The case has been sent to the Central Criminal court on 28 August.

A statement from Crown Prosecution Service said the charges relate to the two men's alleged activities between 29 June 2014 and 6 March this year.

Section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000 says that a person commits an offence if they invite "support for a proscribed organisation, and the support is not, or is not restricted to, the provision of money or other property."

It says that a person can face up to 10 years in jail if found guilty.

The Home Office moved to ban Islamic State, which it calls Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in June last year.